Android Authority

HTC Hero for Cellular South

While it doesn’t come as an over the air download, it is now possible for Cellular South customers to manually update their HTC Hero smartphones to the Android 2.1 operating system.

The download file and instructions for applying it can be found on the Cellular South website.

[via Phandroid]

LG Ally for Verizon

According to the Verizon support site, a firmware update for the LG Ally is on its way out to customers. The update will take the phone to firmware version VS740ZV8. It offers the following improvements:

• Increased QWERTY keyboard operability
• Streamlined alert functions
• Improved usability with alert sounds for authentication or confirmation of Bluetooth functions
• Increased speed and response time for Messaging and Camera applications
• Manage your schedule with preloaded Corporate
  Calendar application
• Improved Amazon MP3 application
• Preloaded Backup Assistant application is now available
• Enjoy an enhanced preloaded Visual Voicemail application
• Sync Facebook contacts with a new preloaded application

You’ll find more information on the Verizon support site.

[via Mobile Burn]

P2P Video with Flash

Mark Doherty, Flash Platform Evangelist for Mobile and Devices, Adobe Systems, has recently demonstrated new additions to call state handling for video calling applications using Flash/AIR. The thing to note about this video, despite coming from an Adobe employee, is that this is not an Adobe Flash Platform product. This means it not official, nor will it be. However, Doherty is set to release the source code out to developers so they can make their own cross-platform peer-to-peer chat applications based on Flash.

The technology itself is very similar to Apple’s iPhone 4-based FaceTime, emphasised by the cheeky name FlashTime. Using Adobe’s own Stratus servers, the video shown after the jump reveals a FlashTime demo with a user-to-user video call between two Android Nexus One devices.

[Via Hexus]
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Droid 2 with Android 2.2

News from different sources has confirmed the Droid 2 is likely to launch with Android 2.2, also known as Froyo. This converging evidence comes from both DroidLife and Phandroid, who independently offer real evidence for this existence of Android 2.2 on the device.

DroidLife have provided the screenshot to the right and this shows the about screen of the device revealing a version number of 2.2, along with a few other bits such as the baseband, kernel and build. On the Phandroid front, we have a photo of Verizon’s device database which shows the Motorola Droid 2 as an Android 2.2 device.

Hopefully this means that the device will launch with Android 2.2 and the early adopters will not have to wait for the updates to roll in. Check out both images after the jump.

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Motorola i1

Starting today, Boost Mobile, who is known for its no contract cell phones, has made available the Android powered Motorola i1 smartphone with push-to-talk capabilities to its customers. The rugged Motorola i1 is designed to endure the harshest of elements and has earned a Mil Spec 810 rating and offers full nationwide Boost walkie talkie phone coverage.  The phone also features email and messaging support, a 5 megapixel camera/camcorder, WiFi, GPS, and a large 3.1-inch touchscreen.

The Motorola i1 Android phone for Boost Mobile sells for US$399.99 and is available at Boost Mobile retail stores nationwide now.

The Motorola Milestone XT720 is now available online in the UK.  The Milestone XT720 is an Android 2.1 smartphone that sports a large 3.7-inch capacitive touchscreen display, shoots HD 720p video, and has an 8-megapixel camera, and is backed by a speedy ARM Cortex-A8 720MHz processor. This feature packed device also offers its users 3G HSDPA support as well as WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity. You can find the Milestone XT720 unlocked and SIM-free at online retailers such as Play, Clove and AuroraCell.

[via Pocket-Lint]